Little Bursts of Inspiration

Category Archives: 2013

The most common types of pain are from arthritis, lower back, bone/joint pain, muscle pain and Fibromyalgia. Pain can also take on many forms, changing locations and intensity daily or even hourly in the same person.

There are, however, many pain relief options out there, some that you may not yet be aware of. Because pain is often such a complex issue to treat, and the methods that work highly varied depending on your individual situation, adding one, two or several of the following strategies to your arsenal may give you the much-needed relief you need.

Best of all, the following options are completely safe and natural, which means they can be used successfully by just about everybody.
What you’ll notice is that many of these strategies use the power of your mind to heal physical pain. When you focus your mind on healing, relief follows.

Meditation

Meditation keeps your mind focused on the present, which makes the experience of pain less intense. Originating in Eastern spiritual traditions, meditation is now a common form of mind-body medicine practiced by people of all cultural and religious backgrounds. (1)
In a study by researchers from the University of Manchester in England it was found that people who regularly meditated found decreased pain possibly because they spent less time anticipating it, which blunted its emotional impact. (2)
If you’re new to meditation, you can still benefit. A separate study found that after just a single hour of mindfulness meditation training over a three-day period, participants felt less pain while meditating and also experienced less pain sensitivity when they were not meditating. (3)

Many cities now offer local classes to learn the basics of meditation, but you can get started by finding a quiet location, sitting in a comfortable posture, then focusing your attention on your breath, an object or a mantra (a meaningful word or phrase). If you find your mind wandering, simply bring it back to your focal point without judgment. Prayer, tai chi, qi gong, yoga and journaling can also offer meditative benefits, so choose the form that feels best for you.

Laughter

When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers that also contribute to a sense of well-being. This may help to reduce your pain directly, while also distracting you from the pain, similar to meditation, and providing a wonderful form of stress relief.
Indirectly, laughter therapy, which is, as it sounds, using humor therapeutically to get you to laugh more often, can help to relieve pain by:

Massage therapists use a variety of techniques, including kneading, tapping, pressure and deep circular movements, to relieve a variety of conditions, including pain. According to a survey by the American Hospital Association, nearly 91 percent of respondents agreed that massage was effective in reducing pain.
Further, according to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage stimulates your brain to produce endorphins (natural pain-relieving chemicals) and studies have shown that massage therapy:

•Promotes relaxation and alleviates the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients
•Reduces post-traumatic headaches better than cold-packs
•Reduces pain and muscles spasms in patients who have had heart bypass surgery

A separate study also found that massage therapy provided some immediate pain relief for patients with advanced cancer.
For best results, look for a reputable and qualified massage therapist who is experienced in helping with pain relief.

I have used massage therapy for a few years now. I find that a therapist that takes into consideration the areas in which you experience the most pain or sensitivity and is knowledgeable about Fibromyalgia is your best choice. As I tend to suffer from inflammation in my abdomen after my treatment, my massage therapist massages me while I lay on my side which makes the experience more pleasant for me. She also uses a heating pad under my body before my massage that allows my back and legs to relax more before the massage gets underway.

Music

Music can be extremely soothing not only for your mind but also for your body. By way of distraction and relaxation, music is a form of pain relief that’s as simple and enjoyable as it is effective.

In one small study, patients with back, neck or joint pain experienced a 20 percent decrease in pain after listening to music for one hour a day for seven days, compared to a 2 percent increase in pain in the control group. (4)

Music has also been found to help reduce post-surgical pain, (5)
chronic and cancer pain, along with reducing patients’ need for pain-relieving medications. (6).

So whenever the mood strikes, put on your favorite musical artist and let the sounds help soothe you.

If you have a large amount of alcohol one night, chances are you will wake up with a hangover. A hangover is caused mainly due to dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic which causes fluids to be flushed by the body.
The best way to completely avoid a hangover is to not drink at all but then you wouldn’t be reading this….

I am not one to drink to excess. If I were to partake in several alcoholic beverages in one evening I would injest at least (3) 8 ounce glasses of water and eat a snack preferably consisting of something like eggs or cheese. Food helps settle your stomach and give you energy. It absorbs some of the alcohol in your system, making it harder for it to affect you. Therefore always make sure you eat while you are drinking and right after you stop drinking.

More Natural Approaches to preventing a hangover:

B vitamins are necessary for the proper breakdown and elimination of alcohol in the body. In fact, in one study, vitamin B6 reduced the number of hangover symptoms by approximately 50 percent. For anyone who has suffered after a night of overindulgence, this certainly is good to know.

If your hangover has caused feelings of nausea and possible vomiting, ginger may help reduce or eliminate those symptoms. Ginger is commonly used as an alternative remedy to ease nausea and upset stomach. The underground stem of the ginger plant has been used medicinally since ancient times. In addition to easing an upset stomach, ginger may also help ease headaches and diarrhea

Other Hangover Help

Life Extension recommends a garlic-based supplement for hangovers. Garlic contains S-allyl-cysteine, which neutralizes acetaldehyde; vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium are included in the Kyolic Garlic Formula 105 supplement for their antioxidant effects. Consult your doctor before taking garlic or any kind of supplement. Activated charcoal is used to neutralize poisons and can help lessen the symptoms of toxicity associated with alcohol. Ginger, meanwhile, is good for soothing stomach upsets. Consuming food and drinks that contain fructose, such as fruit juices and honey, will help your body burn the alcohol faster. Bouillon soup helps replace salt and potassium depleted by alcohol. Get plenty of rest and remember most hangovers are gone within 24 hours. Avoid taking acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, because of possible liver damage when combined with alcohol.

In Las Vegas they have a hangover bus, this I stumbled across doing research for this blog:

The “Hangover Bus” IV treatment can actually relieve hangover symptoms by replenishing vital nutrients, fluids, and anti-oxidants. But does one have to pay someone to do that? You could easily drink several glasses of water, take an aspirin, or a multivitamin, and get the same effect.

But sufferers of a Vegas-level hangover might also expect a Vegas-level treatment. “EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters have used IV fluids for a long time to help resolve most of the symptoms of a hangover,” Hangover Heaven’s owner, Jason Burke, told “20/20.” “I’ve just taken it to the next level, with the vitamins and the medications.”

I am amazed in just over one year 2,808 people have viewed my blog. Thank you again, to all of you that stopped by over the last year and left a comment and subscribed to my blog. I have grander plans for 2013 and with it I am eager to embark on another journey which is to attain employment.
Those of you have followed me over the past year have known of my medical conditions and I will still remain a strong advocate for those suffering with Fibomyalgia and other chronically fatiguing conditions. My posts will still contain herbal remedies to help those of us dealing with pain and fatigue which seem to be the common culprits. There is hope for anyone suffering with chronic pain, we are all individuals and as such may require different approaches to pain management.

This past year I tried art therapy, massage therapy and reiki as a means of controlling my pain and 2013 will not be any different.

My book will continue to be written in my spare time while I am employed as having a steady income will allow me the financial ability to publish and market it myself. I prefer to be an independent writer and keep the authenticity of my writing. My herbology coursework will continue but a slower pace and that will allow me to enjoy so much more and learn more without being under tight deadlines.

May your dreams and aspirations materialize in 2013, may you be blessed with love and kindness, but above all may you remain true to yourself and love with all your heart.